Course overview
Being a competent Crime Scene Investigator requires a strong foundation in making critical observations and having good technical abilities in your tool box. This 40 hour hands-on course is designed to familiarize beginner to intermediate level police personnel with the basic technical skills needed to identify, document, preserve and collect the most common types of physical evidence found at crime scenes. Students will work through numerous practical exercises to establish baseline knowledge in everything from crime scene documentation and photography to collecting various types of evidence for submission to crime laboratories. Forza Forensics is committed to working with your organization's personnel to make them better equipped to handle any investigative situation.
Day One.
Students can expect to spend the first day reviewing the history and ethics of forensic science and crime scene investigation. Students will progress to learning the most common capabilities of crime labs and how to manage resources during a crime scene investigation.
History of crime scene processing
Forensic science ethics
Responsibilities of CSI’s
Crime lab capabilities
Crime scene management
Crime scene equipment
Day Two.
On day two, students learn the principles of crime scene documentation and observations. Students begin developing skills in crime scene photography, crime scene sketching and measurement techniques.
Camera equipment
Exposure triangle and camera adjustments
Crime scene photo composition and sequence
Crime scene sketching techniques
Crime scene & evidence measurement techniques
Day Three.
Day three combines the skills gained during days one and two and begins to introduce the techniques used to search for, document and collect latent print and biological evidence.
Principles of using friction ridge skin for identification
Searching for latent prints
Processing latent prints in the field
Principles of biological fluids as evidence
Searching for biological evidence
Collecting biological evidence and presumptive testing
Day Four.
In day four, students continue adding skills by learning techniques used to search for, document and collect footwear, tire track and firearms related evidence.
Sources of footwear & tire track evidence
Evidence substrates
2D vs 3D collection techniques
Firearms safety
Common terms & “anatomy”
Collection of firearms evidence
Day Five.
The last day of class begins with more documentation and collection of evidence but is highlighted by two final exercises that allows each student to put the skills they have gained over the previous four day to work.
Drug evidence documentation and collection
Digital evidence types
Preserving & collecting digital evidence
Final exercise 1 - Outdoor scene
Final exercise 2 - Indoor scene
Course links
basic crime scene Investigation course syllabus
course policies
Upcoming.
january 13th - 17th, 2025
rohnert park, ca
Click here to host this course!
If you have any questions about registration email us at info@forzaforensics.com
IAI Approved.
This course is approved by the Crime Scene Certification Board of the International Association for Identification for 40 hours towards certification and re-certification credit.
Course requirements.
Students will need to bring any camera equipment normally carried while on duty.
(Camera kit rental is available. Select option during registration)
Student are also encouraged to train with their own crime scene equipment since that is what they will use on a day to day basis. However, all forensic supplies needed to complete the practical exercises will be available (excludes camera kit).